We check in with people at each stage of the cash transfer process to see how things are going. Take a look at some of their stories as they appear here in real-time.
Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My goal in the next six months is to purchase a crossbreed. I have agreed to pay the owner in installments then when I complete the entire payments I can be able to bring the cow home.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that the transfers have helped me in paying school fees and purchasing uniforms among other school requirements. This was a challenge before because I did not have a steady source of income that one could depend on. It was always a struggle day in day out.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I will have purchased a crossbreed cow for rearing and milking. I will then sell the milk to earn an income for my family. This way I can increase sources of revenue in the household.
19th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life has changed to some extent because in most cases the cash that I have been receiving from the organization helps in taking care of the school fees budgets for my kids which to a large extent has really changed my life.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am planning to buy a hybrid cow which will generate milk for my family so that we do not have to be buying milk in the near future. In as much as the buying cost of buying the animal could be quite high, but then its profitability cannot be compared with the local breeds.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference for me is that I was able to pay school fees for my grandchildren without straining so much like I used to do in the past. Initially, the kids could stay home for even a whole week.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to make changes in my life in the future because once I buy the cow, it will generate enough milk which I can also sell out to my clients at some profit. Just in case I run into a calamity or financial distress, then I can use the money
15th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different from how it was in that, I am able to take care of my children's needs easily by paying school fees and buying them books too. This was not an easy task before since I could depend on casual jobs that are usually not reliable. Sometimes they could be sent home due to lack of school fees and this simply meant that I had to look for money even if it took long before I could send them back to school. I am glad that today I have an easy time because of the monthly transfers. we also eat well and my poultry farming is doing well too.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to buy a dairy cow. This is a source of income because I will sell the milk in the village so as to earn a living. Depending on casual jobs is normally hectic and this is why I have been thinking of self-employment which I will hopefully start in the next four months.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months is that I was able to start poultry farming. The business had collapsed a few months ago because most of the hens died. I had lost hope. I am glad that the business is doing well and I am enjoying what I like most. Their is always a ready market in our area and this is what has also motivated me to start all over again. Thanks to GiveDirectly.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect my life to change in that, I will have bought a dairy cow. This will be a source of income from the various benefits like selling milk. When this actualizes, I will rest from casual jobs because I will be selling milk that will be enough to take care of my needs. I have been dreaming of self-employment which is easy and apart from that, I will be able to give back to the community by employing the young people hence the growth of our people.
11th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different for how it was four months ago in that, I do not take loans to pay school fees for my children. I always felt like I was a bother to my relatives whom I used to take the loans from. Borrowing is never easy but I had to because I wanted to ensure my kids finished school. I am glad I can now educate my other children without taking loans
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to buy a dairy cow. There is a shortage of milk in our village, therefore I believe buying a dairy cow is a big investment. This will help me settle bills and meet my daily needs that I may not have been able to meet without the surplus income. It will also help me reduce expenditure since I will not be buying milk any more.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months is that I was able to reduce the school fees arrears for my children. I managed to finish paying the whole school fees for my son who had just completed high school and he was able to pick his certificate which could have been held if he had pending arrears. Previously, I could sweat looking for money to pay their school fees and I could seek assistance too from my relatives who could sometimes not have the money. To me, my son completing high school is the biggest goal I have achieved so far. It is like a miracle. I did not know one day my child would reach that level and finish school without taking loans
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months in that, I will have paid dowry. My wife has been pushing me to pay dowry and at some point, she thought maybe I was not serious with our marriage. But that is not the case and this is why I plan to pay her dowry once I have accumulated enough money. This will also earn me respect from my In-laws. I am also planning to take my child to a boarding school because the school he is going to currently is very far forcing her to come home late which is risky. Apart from that, he also gets tired and may not revise well on what he learnt at school.
7th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different from the way it was four months ago in that I was able to clear my child's school fee thus I'm relieved. I was able to buy more additional clothing both mine and for the family. I also mangaed to buy a pig and I'm hopping for good results after some times.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I have a new goal of savijg some money so that I can buy a cross-breed cow so that I'll be able to get milk for sale thus an additional source of income.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life the last four months preceding the current transfer is that I was able to clear the huge school fee arrears my child owed the school. This has given the child ample time with his studies and I'm also relieved too.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have saved enough money for buying a cross-breed cow for rearing for milk.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I have a new goal of rearing a crossed breed cow for the purpose of getting milk for commercial and own use.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different than it would have been without the transfer in the sense that my health has greatly improved since I no longer strain working in the farm the whole day.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In he next six months, I expect my life to change greatly. I m planning to save part of my monthly transfer and open a shop for my spouse who is currently a house wife. With that I believe that the living standard of the family will automatically go higher.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the happiness and relief I have found in ploughing my land with an ox-plough as opposed to before when I did the ploughing by myself.
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life was when I struggled to pay my son's school fees upto university level and graduated but I never saw the impact of his education because he died of malaria.It was so hard to believe this.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when I am in touch with my firends,relatives and neighbours through making and receiving calls and getting to know how their day was.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I plan to spend my transfer on paying school fees for my secondary school daughter who is now in form three till she finishes her secondary and university level.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My proudest achievement was buying a one acre land through savings that I got from tithes and offerings brought by my church members when I was a pastor by then.